Winch system for vehicles



A. E. NORRIS. WINCH SYSTEM FOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILE'D FEB-21, 19I9. I

Patented' Oct. 24

1922. 2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

A. E. NORRIS. WINCH SYSTEM FOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION F ILED FEB. 21,1919- Patented Oct. 24, 1922.

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Patented Get. 24, 1922.

" new ALMon E. NORRIS, or nooxnrnn, massaorrusnrrs.

WINCH SYSTEM FOR VEHICLES.

Application filed -lebrnary 21,1919 Serial No. 278,481.

To aZZ whom'e't may concern:

Be it known that I, ALMoN E. NORRIS,

1 a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Brookline, in the county of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Winch Systems for Vehicles, of which the following description, in con- 1 nection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, likecharacters on the drawings representing like parts. r

This invention pertains to improvements in winch systems for vehicles, and more particularly, though not exclusively, to improvenients in'winch systems for motor trucks.

In the drawings, which show a preferred form of one embodiment of my 1nvent1on:-

Fig. l isa plan of a motor truck applied thereto a preferred form of one embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a sideelevation thereof;

Fig. 3 is a plan view on anenlar ged scale, partly in section, showing details of the winch mechanism and a drive therefor Fig. 4 is an elevation, partly in section, showing the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 3;

- Fig. 5 is an-end elevation-taken from the right of Fig. 4;and

' Fig. 6 shows a modificationof the construction of the outer bearingfor the winch shaft,

' The preferred form of my invention shown in the drawings includes a winch head 6, shiftable from the-position shown in ful lines in ,Fig. 3 to the extended position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3. The winch head may be used in either of said positions, but for many purposes it is more convenient for use in extended position, shown in dotted lines. The winch can be located at any desired point, preferably adjacent the rear axle of the truck, but is preferably, as shown, located a little forwardly of the rear axle of the truck and below the level of the floor of the truck so that no space which could be otherwise utllized for the load is taken up by the winch head or winch mechanism. The preferred form of winch drum is shiftable from a position inside the marginal portion of the car body to a position outside the marginal portion of the car. When the winch mecha nism is located below the floor or platform of the truck body it has all theadvantages of accessibility which pertain to an exposed winch head, while retaining those advantages of compactness which pertain to a nested or concealed construction. Power may-be transmitted from the winch head for any desired purpose by means ofsheaves cooperating with a rope, cable or chain passing around the drum. The preferred arrangement of sheaves includes a corner block, which is preferably, as shown, a sheave mounted on a casting adapted detachably, to fit over a corner of the car platform or body floor.

In the preferred form of my invention shown in the drawings, the winch mechanism receives power from a shaft 7 driven in any suitable way, but which is preferably a shaft in the transmission of the vehicle, through a chain engaging the sprockets 8, 8. In the preferred illustrative form of my invention, I have shown a slidable clutch element 9 splined to the winch drive shaft 7 and adapted to engage a clutch element 10, which is not splined or otherwise secured to the shaft 7. The clutch element 9 may be controlled by the rod 11, which is preferably connected to a lever 12 adjacent the drivers seat of the car and also to a lever 12 adjacent the side of thecar. When the clutch element 9 is out of engagement with the clutch element 10, as shown in Fig. 3, the sprocket and clutch element 10 can rotate without. imparting any rotation to the winchdrive shaft 7 but, when the clutch element 9 is slid into engagement with the clutch element 10, the shaft 7 will rotate with the sprocket 8. The winch drive shaft 7 preferably carries a worm l6 engaging a worm gear 17 on a shaft 17, preferably extending transversely of the car. 7 The shaft 17 is preferably supported by bearings 18, 19 carried by the worm and worm gear housing, and is preferably also supported by a bearing attached to the body of the truck. To prevent binding of the shaft and undue strain on the frame of the car, the shaft is preferably flexibly mounted,

the worm. gear housing being preferably flexibly mounted for movement in two directions about pintles 20, 21 preferably extending at right angles to each other, thus providing a universal flexible support for the worm gear housing and associated parts.

.VVhere, as is preferred, the winch head 6 is shiftable into two positions, I prefer to spline the shaft 17 in the worm gear 17 to permit axial movement of theshaft 17 relative to the worm gear 17. The shaft 17 is also preferably provided with locating or thrust elements 22, 23, preferably spherical for reasons hereinafter described, and located one on each side of the winch head 6, alternately to engage a spherical bearing surface in a bearing 24, which is preferably slung from one side of the body of the car. The spherical surface cooperating with the bearing 24 provides, inv combination with the splined shaft and flexible mounting of the worm gear housing, a flexible or anti cramping support of the shaft 17. The bearing 2 1 is preferably made in two parts, 28 and 29, adapted to be clampedtogether by any suitable clamping means 30. which is preferably readily accessible from the outside of the car. The two halves 28 and 29 of the bearing may be pivoted at 81 and 32 respectively so that, when desired, the

locking mechanism 30 may be moved into unlocked position, the bearings 28 and 29 swung laterally about the pivots 31 and 32 so that the winch head 6 and shaft 17 may be slid between the two halves of the hearing to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3. After this operation the two halves 28 and 29of the bearing 24 may be swung together and locked to provide a support adjacent the side of the car and adjacent the inside end of the winch head 6. The bearing 24 is made with a recess to receive the thrust elements 22 and 23, the thrust element 22 taking the thrust when the winch head is in extended or outboard position, and.

the thrust element taking the thrust when the winch'head isin retracted or nested position.

To protect the splined end of the shaft 17" from dust or dirt, I preferably provide a housing or tubing having a cap 51 which may carry grease for lubrication of the spline, there being preferably employed any of the well known provisions for opposing the entrance of dust into the joint between the bearing 19 and the shaft 17'.

The described mechanism provides a preferred form of winch mechanism having a winch head. shiftable into two positions, one

position preferably beneath the platform of the truck body and the other position preferably outside the marginal portion of the truck body. The described preferred shaft supporting mechanism provides a preferred form of flexibly supported winch shaft preventing cramping of the shaft and excessive strain on the frame or winch caused by flexbility or warping of the frame of the truck or of the body thereof or of combinations of the two. The flexible support of the winch mechanism also admits of less exactitude in assembly of the parts than a less flexible construction. If desired, the outer bearing may be constructed with a pivotal hanger, as best shown in Fig. 6. l/Vhere this construction is used the thrust elements preferably not spherical, because a combination of the pivoted support for the hanger and spherical thrust, with the splined shaft and universally pivoted worm gear housing, would permit undesired longitudinal shifting of the winch shaft and parts carried thereby.

The chain 13 may be tightened or loosened by shifting washers on the bolts (Fig. 4:) from one side to the other of the channel 71. The relative positioning of the shaft L bearings 18, 19, pivots 20, 21 and bearing 2% minimize the strain on the shaft 17 and on the chassis frame 71. The holes in the channel 71 are the only holes which need be drilled or punched in the chassis frame, and these may be located at comparatively widely separated points and in the vertical web of the channel frame 71.

While I have shown and described a preferred form of one embodiment of my invention, it will'be understood that changes involving omission, substitution, alteration and reversal of parts, and even changes in the mode of operation, maybe made without departing from the scope'of my invention, which is bestdefined in the following claims.

Claims: V

1. In a vehicle, a winch comprising driv ing gearing and a winch head shiftable into a plurality of positions relativeto said drivin'g gearing, in one of which positions, said winch head is protected by an overhanging part of said vehicle.

2. In a vehicle, a winch having a driving gear, and a winch head shiftable into a plurality of positions relative to said gear in one of which positions said head is nested with relation to-a part of the vehicle.

3. In a vehicle, a winch comprising a winch head, a main shaft carrying said head,

a bearing adjacent said winch head, said head being readily shiftable to a position on either side ofsaid bearing.

4. In a vehicle, a winch comprising a winch head, a winch head shaft, a bearing for said shaft adjacent the marginal portion of the vehicle body and means permitting shifting of said winch head alternatively to a position inside of said bearing or to a position outside of said bearing.

5. In a vehicle, a winch comprising a winch head, and driving mechanism therefor having means permitting shifting of said winch head relatively to a part of said mechanism from a position inside the mar ginal portion of the car body to a position outside saidmarginal portion.

6. In a vehicle, a winch comprising a winch head, a shaft for said winch head, a support for said shaft secured to the frame of the vehicle and a second support for said shaft secured to the vehicle body outwardly beyond said frame. I p

7. In a vehicle, the combination with a frame and a body supported thereby, of a winch head, and a shaft for said winch head, said shaft being flexibly supported in part by said frame and in part by said body to prevent cramping thereof by relative movement of parts of said vehicle frame and body.

8. In a vehicle, a winch comprising a winch head, a shaft therefor, and a bearing for said shaft, said shaft and bearing having provision for relative positioning in a plurality of different positions lengthwise of said shaft and to permit changes of alignment of said shaft in any one of such positions.

9. In a vehicle, a frame, a winch mounted thereon comprising a winch head, a shaft therefor, and two bearings for said shaft, having provision for angular movement of said shaft accompanying distortion of said frame, one of said bearings providing for longitudinal movement of said shaft therein.

10. In a vehicle, the combination of a winch comprising a winch head, a longitudinally shiftable shaft therefor, and a longitudinally fixed driving gear splined to said shaft, said winch head and shaft being mounted for longitudinal adjustment from an exposed position to an unexposed position.

11. In a vehicle, a winch having a winch head normally below the level of the body floor and shiftable to an operative position beyond the marginal portion of said floor.

l2. In a vehicle, a winch having a winch head, a shaft therefor, said head and shaft shiftably axially to a plurality of positions, and thrust means for locating said head and shaft in said positions.

18. In a winch. a winch head, a shaft therefor, a bearingfor said shaft, said bearing separable to permit axial shifting of said winch head from one side thereof to the other ide thereof.

14. In a winch, a winch head, a shaft therefor, a bearing for said shaft, thrust elements on said shaft at the opposite sides of said head, and means in said bearing for alternative engagement with said thrust elements.

15. In a winch, a winch head, a shaft therefor, a bearing for said shaft, and a plurality of spherical thrust elements secured against longitudinal movement relatively to said shaft, said bearing providing spherical bearing surface for engagement with any one of said thrust elements.

16. In a vehicle, the combination of a body and a supporting frame having a relative flexing action, a winch including a winch head, and a shaft therefor supported at one end by the vehicle frame and at the other end by the vehicle body, said shaft flexibly supported thereby to avoid cramping of the shaft by twisting of the frame of the vehicle.

17. In a motor vehicle, a power plant, a winch having a winch head movable into two positions, one position exposed for use beyond the marginal portion of the body of the vehicle and the other position beneath the platform of the vehicle body, and clutch means for connecting and disconnecting said winch with and from said power plant.

18. In a vehicle, a winch comprising in combination a winch shaft slidable longitudinally, a winch head secured to and driven by said shaft and a housing surrounding one end of said shaft.

19. In a vehicle, a winch comprising in combination a winch shaft slidable longitudinally, a winch head secured to and driven by said shaft and a housing surrounding one end of said shaft, said housing comprising a tubular pipe closed at one end.

20. The combination with a vehicle, of a winch comprising a driving member, and a winch head having driving connection with said member and mounted to move axially relatively thereto from an exposed to an unexposed position with respect to said vehicle.

21. In a vehicle, a winch comprising a winch head movable into two positions, one position exposed for use and the other posi tion beneath the platform of the vehicle body, a driving element, and clutch means for connecting and disconnecting said winch head with and from said driving element.

22. In a vehicle, a winch comprising a winch head movable into two positions, one position exposed for use and the other position unexposed when out of use, and a driving element having connection with said winch head permitting such movement.

23. In a vehicle, a winch comprising a winch head movable into two positions, one an advanced position for use and the other a retracted position when out of use, a driving element, and means connecting said driving element to said winch head permitting the latter to be moved relatively to said driving element to either of said positions.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

ALMON E. NORRIS. 

